Television Outreach Program (TOP)

2017 Submissions are now Closed.

The Television Outreach Program (TOP) is a Scriptwriters Network program to support undiscovered television writing talent. The program’s objective is to help writers improve their craft so that they may achieve their goals of obtaining representation, script development, mentoring and career counseling services, landing writing assignments, and/or selling their work.

PROCESS:

Phase One: Two readers will evaluate your script and provide written feedback analyzing structure, story development, characterization, dialogue, format, as well as overall impressions. If recommended by two readers, the script will advance to Phase Two.

Phase Two: Loglines of scripts that receive a double recommend from Phase One will be forwarded to our list of agents, managers and producers.

The Scriptwriters Network reserves the right to publicize the writer’s name and selected script.

**SWN’s TOP Program is working towards the discovery of content and talent, which will better assist you in achieving the goal of a staff writing position. Along with working to connect you to a talent agent and management team to hone your writing skills in order to maintain a staff writing position.

PRIZES:

Loglines and/or Scripts will be eligible to be read by industry professionals including studio executives, production companies, agents and managers based on their request from interest in the logline and genre.

Receive a one year membership or a one year membership renewal to the Scriptwriters Network (SWN).

One of the top three winners will be selected to meet one-on-one with one of the following:

Writer & Producer Dayna Lynne North

Writer & Producer Steven L. Sears

Literary Manager Tony Zequeira

TextAloud DVDs (TextAloud, plus Crystal and Mike Premium Voices). NextUp.com is providing the DVD’s which go to the one of the top three winners.

Final Draft software certificate for one of the top three winners.

ELIGIBILITY and ENTRY RULES:

TOP is open to both SWN members and non-members who are 18 years of age or older.

SPEC SCRIPTS for half-hour or one-hour network or cable series in production as of the entry deadline are eligible.

Pilot scripts for original series are also eligible.

All scripts must be wholly original works of the writer or writing team, unproduced and unoptioned, and, responsibly registered with the Writers Guild of America and/or the U.S. Copyright Office.

Do NOT put your name or contact information anywhere on the script or title page you submit. Personal information should ONLY be included in the entry form, so that scripts remain anonymous.

Multiple submissions are allowed by an entrant or writing team per session.

Scripts are to be in PDF format only.

Electronic submissions must be posted by midnight on the entry deadline.

Submissions that do not meet the full requirements will be disqualified.

SUBMITTING SCRIPTS:

1) Go through the PayPal button below with a credit or debit card. Pay as a guest user if you are not registered with PayPal.

– SWN Members will then be directed to log-in with their membership info to access the member rate.

– Non-members will have access to the nonmember rate. Please apply any applicable discount code.

2) After submitting the required information on PayPal, click to return to the SWN page, where all entrants will be directed to upload their scripts in a PDF format on the following page.

3) Check the box confirming you agree to the competition rules and regulations.

4) The script submission will now be accepted.

5) Check e-mail for successful completion of entry.

Entries occur once per year.

OCCURRENCE & SUBMISSION FEES:

Early bird Deadline: IS CLOSED

Member Fee – $100

Non-Member Fee – $130

Regular Deadline:IS CLOSED

Member Fee – $115

Non-Member Fee – $145

Non-SWN Member Special:

SWN New Membership & TOP fee – $200

There are NO REFUNDS.

Final results are announced inJanuary 2018.

INDUSTRY CONTACTS:

Producers, production companies, agents, and managers who would like to read winning scripts may join our list by completing the Industry Contacts form. It can be downloaded from the documents section below. In the interim, please check out our previous winners.

NEW READERS:

We are currently looking to expand our pool of experienced readers in TOP. Please contact us at top@scriptwritersnetwork.org for details.